76ers vs – Joel Embiid and the 76ers finished a stunning 3-1 comeback, defeating Boston 109-100 in Game 7 to reach the East semis.
A 3-1 deficit is a graveyard for hopes, yet the Philadelphia 76ers turned theirs into a launchpad, completing an unforgettable comeback to beat the Boston Celtics 109-100 in Game 7 and move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Joel Embiid produced a dominant all-around performance. finishing with 34 points. 12 rebounds and six assists to carry Philadelphia through a tense night.. Tyrese Maxey backed him with 30 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while VJ Edgecombe scored 23 and Paul George chipped in with 13.. With the win, the No.. 7 seed 76ers will face the No.. 3 New York Knicks, visiting Monday night for Game 1 of the second round.
Why this matters: The 76ers’ ability to sustain momentum after falling behind so early turns this series into more than a single upset. It becomes a statement about resilience and execution when the margin is thin.
Boston arrived without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out shortly before tipoff with left knee stiffness.. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points and nine rebounds. and Derrick White added 26 points including five three-pointers. but Philadelphia’s control in key stretches left Boston chasing answers.. The Celtics finished 13 of 49 from beyond the arc for the third straight game. a trend that proved costly as the series shifted.
Philadelphia built and maintained pressure. leading for all but 31 seconds in the game and extending a five-point halftime edge into a decisive third quarter cushion.. The Celtics narrowed the gap early in the fourth after a 16-4 run. pulling to 92-91. yet Philadelphia steadied itself late when it mattered most.. With 1:15 remaining and the game still within reach. Maxey created separation for a layup. then Boston missed four consecutive attempts as Philadelphia pushed the score to 105-98 at the free-throw line.
Why this matters: When a series reaches Game 7, the ability to convert stops into points is often what separates winners from heartbreak. Philadelphia’s late-game sequence prevented Boston from flipping momentum for a final run.
The story of this matchup also includes a shift in rhythm and structure from Boston.. With Tatum out, coach Joe Mazzulla changed the starting five, introducing Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr.. alongside Brown and White.. Boston’s early issues were immediate. falling into an early hole as Philadelphia claimed a 9-0 start to the game’s momentum and led by 15 in the opening quarter.
On the other side. the 76ers kept their mindset steady throughout the series. finishing what had already been an extraordinary run.. Maxey’s comments captured the emotional weight of the moment: Philadelphia had previously had a chance to take control in a series against Boston years earlier but failed to close it out. and this time they did.
Why this matters (final): The 76ers aren’t just advancing to the next round; they’re carrying confidence built through pressure-cooker basketball. For New York, this is a team that has already shown it can overturn history, not just trends.